2026 Strait of Hormuz Crisis Escalates as Iran Attacks Gulf Nations

Doha, Qatar – March 11, 2026 – Tensions in the Middle East have reached a critical point as Iran launched a wave of missile and drone attacks targeting several Gulf nations, including a United States base in Kuwait. The attacks, described by Iran as its 37th wave of retaliation in response to the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, coincide with a global energy crisis and a vessel fire in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Escalation of Attacks

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday that it had fired four missiles at US forces’ headquarters in the Middle East, with two specifically targeting Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. While Kuwaiti authorities have not officially confirmed these reports, the country’s National Guard stated that eight drones targeting the nation were successfully intercepted Al Jazeera.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence reported intercepting a missile attack aimed at the Gulf nation, with explosions heard in the West Bay district of Doha. “A little west of the city, we saw interceptions—those smoke clouds when the defensive weapons that Qatar has make contact with those incoming missiles,” reported Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi, noting that such interceptions have develop into increasingly common across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Al Jazeera.

Strait of Hormuz Disruption

The attacks are occurring against a backdrop of significant disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies. A vessel is currently ablaze in the strait, exacerbating concerns about potential supply chain issues. The Strait, at its narrowest point, is 21 miles wide and lies between Iran and Oman Wikipedia.

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has already caused a surge in global oil and gas prices. Approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day typically transit the strait and disruptions are having cascading effects on energy markets worldwide NPR.

International Response

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) demanding that Iran cease attacks on its Arab neighbors Al Jazeera.

The current crisis began on February 28, 2026, following joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, including the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei Wikipedia.

Casualties and Damage

As of March 11, 2026, the crisis has resulted in at least eight seafarer deaths and damage to at least four tankers. One port worker has been killed in Bahrain, and two others injured Wikipedia. Attacks have also struck oil and gas infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates NPR.